Arlington Country Day

Jacksonville Arlington Country Day (26-9) clearly had the edge over Warner Christian (23-8) in Monday's Class A state semifinal baseball game. Even the Apaches were taking that for granted during their 10-0 mercy-rule victory. After Country Day pitcher Chris Pillsbury finished with nine strikeouts in five innings, one of Warner's ninth-graders, Matt Rodriguez, said: "He was telling us what pitch he'd throw. He intimidated a lot of players." The Apaches went on to rock defending champion and No. 1-ranked Miami Brito Private (29-7)

These 15 players, compiled by SourceHoops.com, represent the best from those teams that play outside of the FHSAA. Players were selected based on in-person evaluations, a review of all-area teams and recognition by the Florida Athletic Coaches Association and the Florida Association of Basketball Coaches Independent all-state First team Kasey Hill, 6-1, Jr., Montverde Academy Kedar Edwards, 6-5, Sr., West Oaks ...

JACKSONVILLE -- In a clash of Florida basketball powerhouses, Arlington Country Day (Class 2A, No. 1) scraped by Lake Howell (Class 5A, No. 1) 88-80 in overtime Thursday night at Jacksonville Indoor Sports. Towering over the Silver Hawks, the Apaches' 7-foot-3 center, Jason Bennett, led ACD (11-2) with a team-high 23 points, including five in OT. ACD, ranked eighth in the most recent USA Today national poll, outscored Lake Howell (11-3) 14-6 in overtime. ACD's Josue Soto scored four of his 22 points in OT. Lake Howell's last lead came at 79-78 when Brett Chance was credited with a layup on a goaltending call with 2 minutes, 2 seconds to go in OT. Bennett's dunk and subsequent foul shot with 1:43 left put ACD back in front.

Cocoa (30-3) came from behind to win the Class 4A state championship game 75-60 over previously-unbeaten Spring Hill Springstead (31-1) Saturday afternoon. The victory completed a sweep of football and boys basketball championships for the Tigers, making them only the third Florida school to accomplish that feat in the same school year. Port St. Joe became the first school to sweep those two major sport titles in 1971-72. Bradenton Southeast did the same in 1994-95 with future FSU and NFL receiver Peter Warrick playing quarterback and point guard.

Perhaps only Class A baseball could summon a region final like this, pitting a team that was once 0-7 this spring against a first-year varsity program that has no upperclassmen on the roster. Peach-fuzzed Jacksonville Arlington Country Day, ready or not, is headed to the final four.''We don't even have a kid that shaves,'' Arlington Country Day coach Burt Pierce said after his Apaches ousted Trinity Christian Academy, 8-1, in the North I Region final Tuesday.Catcher Zack Retzer was 3-for-3 and drove in the first three runs for Arlington Country Day (17-6)

Arlington Country Day proved to be too powerful for Father Lopez, crushing the Green Wave 65-35. Jarred Stockton led Arlington Country Day (26-5) with 16 points. Barry Jordan added 12 and Saul MacDonald 10.

These 15 players, compiled by SourceHoops.com, represent the best from those teams that play outside of the FHSAA. Players were selected based on in-person evaluations, a review of all-area teams and recognition by the Florida Athletic Coaches Association and the Florida Association of Basketball Coaches Independent all-state First team Kasey Hill, 6-1, Jr., Montverde Academy Kedar Edwards, 6-5, Sr., West Oaks ...

SATURDAY'S SCORES Class 2A championship game Jacksonville Arlington Country Day 72, Port St. Joe 43 Class 4A championship game Miami Monsignor Pace 77, Lakeland Kathleen 58 Class 6A championship game Pompano Beach Ely 80, Dr. Phillips 77 (OT) LET'S REVIEW Arlington Country Day 72, Port St. Joe 43: The heavy underdog Sharks (17-15) stalled early, then scrapped back to take a 27-25 lead with ACD's Kentucky signee, A.J. Stewart, on the bench with four fouls. But the Apaches (26-6) dominated the final 18 minutes to avoid what would have been one of the biggest upsets in tournament history.

AUBURNDALE -- Everything looks so much clearer for Central Florida Christian sophomore Kristen Butler. It's not just because Butler, who has batted an amazing .826 for the Eagles since getting contact lenses seven games ago, can see the ball better. It's much more insightful than that. After going three-for-four at the plate in CFCA's 4-0 win over Arlington Country Day in the Class A Florida Finals semifinal game Wednesday, Butler already had her eyes focused on today's championship. It's a third consecutive title game for the Eagles, who lost both previous attempts.

Undefeated Montverde Academy did not play for a state championship in boys basketball this season. The Eagles (30-0) voluntarily pulled out of the Florida High School Athletic Association playoff system four years ago in one of its first steps toward building a national-scale program. But Montverde's players are eligible for all-state recognition, and the nationally ranked Eagles (30-0) racked up a stack of honors Tuesday. Montverde's entire starting lineup and sixth man Martez Walker are on the Class 2A All-State team chosen by the Florida Sports Writers Association.

Undefeated Montverde Academy did not play for a state championship in boys basketball this season. The Eagles (30-0) voluntarily pulled out of the Florida High School Athletic Association playoff system four years ago in one of its first steps toward building a national-scale program. But Montverde's players are eligible for all-state recognition, and the nationally ranked Eagles (30-0) racked up a stack of honors Tuesday. Montverde's entire starting lineup and sixth man Martez Walker are on the Class 2A All-State team chosen by the Florida Sports Writers Association.

SATURDAY'S SCORES Class 2A championship game Jacksonville Arlington Country Day 72, Port St. Joe 43 Class 4A championship game Miami Monsignor Pace 77, Lakeland Kathleen 58 Class 6A championship game Pompano Beach Ely 80, Dr. Phillips 77 (OT) LET'S REVIEW Arlington Country Day 72, Port St. Joe 43: The heavy underdog Sharks (17-15) stalled early, then scrapped back to take a 27-25 lead with ACD's Kentucky signee, A.J. Stewart, on the bench with four fouls. But the Apaches (26-6) dominated the final 18 minutes to avoid what would have been one of the biggest upsets in tournament history.

JACKSONVILLE -- In a clash of Florida basketball powerhouses, Arlington Country Day (Class 2A, No. 1) scraped by Lake Howell (Class 5A, No. 1) 88-80 in overtime Thursday night at Jacksonville Indoor Sports. Towering over the Silver Hawks, the Apaches' 7-foot-3 center, Jason Bennett, led ACD (11-2) with a team-high 23 points, including five in OT. ACD, ranked eighth in the most recent USA Today national poll, outscored Lake Howell (11-3) 14-6 in overtime. ACD's Josue Soto scored four of his 22 points in OT. Lake Howell's last lead came at 79-78 when Brett Chance was credited with a layup on a goaltending call with 2 minutes, 2 seconds to go in OT. Bennett's dunk and subsequent foul shot with 1:43 left put ACD back in front.

Jacksonville Arlington Country Day is a unanimous No. 1 in the Class 2A boys basketball poll, but the Apaches have no shot at winning the state playoffs, which will begin next week. Arlington Country Day is in the last season of a three-year ban from the Florida High School Athletic Association playoffs. That puts the school on the outside looking in but also smack-dab in the middle of an ongoing debate within the Florida Sports Writers Association: Should teams that are not in the running for a state title be ranked?

CLERMONT --A good start and good finish were not enough to keep East Ridge from falling to Arlington Country Day 45-28 in the school's first homecoming football game Friday evening. The host was stung by big plays and surrendered 45 straight points to the Jacksonville-area school, with Donnie Johnson scoring three of his team's touchdowns. Frankie Hessburg opened the scoring with a 1-yard run midway through the opening quarter to give East Ridge a 6-0 lead. . Derek Bush then found Richard Jackson open for a 32-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to12-0.

TAMPA -- Jacksonville's Arlington Country Day will test in court a Florida High School Activities Association bylaw that is designed to keep its members from suing the governing body by challenging its ban from the 2002 boys basketball playoffs. During meetings in Tampa on Friday, the association's board of directors unanimously upheld penalties levied against ACD for unsportsmanlike conduct after its 50-45 loss to North Palm Beach Benjamin in the Class 2A state boys basketball final. "We'll be in court as fast as we can write it," said Samuel Jacobsen, a Jacksonville attorney who represents the school.

CLERMONT --A good start and good finish were not enough to keep East Ridge from falling to Arlington Country Day 45-28 in the school's first homecoming football game Friday evening. The host was stung by big plays and surrendered 45 straight points to the Jacksonville-area school, with Donnie Johnson scoring three of his team's touchdowns. Frankie Hessburg opened the scoring with a 1-yard run midway through the opening quarter to give East Ridge a 6-0 lead. . Derek Bush then found Richard Jackson open for a 32-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to12-0.

Jacksonville Arlington Country Day is a unanimous No. 1 in the Class 2A boys basketball poll, but the Apaches have no shot at winning the state playoffs, which will begin next week. Arlington Country Day is in the last season of a three-year ban from the Florida High School Athletic Association playoffs. That puts the school on the outside looking in but also smack-dab in the middle of an ongoing debate within the Florida Sports Writers Association: Should teams that are not in the running for a state title be ranked?

Arlington Country Day proved to be too powerful for Father Lopez, crushing the Green Wave 65-35. Jarred Stockton led Arlington Country Day (26-5) with 16 points. Barry Jordan added 12 and Saul MacDonald 10.

Jacksonville Arlington Country Day (26-9) clearly had the edge over Warner Christian (23-8) in Monday's Class A state semifinal baseball game. Even the Apaches were taking that for granted during their 10-0 mercy-rule victory. After Country Day pitcher Chris Pillsbury finished with nine strikeouts in five innings, one of Warner's ninth-graders, Matt Rodriguez, said: "He was telling us what pitch he'd throw. He intimidated a lot of players." The Apaches went on to rock defending champion and No. 1-ranked Miami Brito Private (29-7)